In Greenwich: Pianist Goode set to inaugurate Tisch Memorial Concert series

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To remember a beloved friend, mother, wife, pianist and music mentor, what better choice than to organize a memorial concert series in her name? And then to inaugurate the series with one of the world's most celebrated pianists: Richard Goode.

The life and passions of a late Pound Ridge, N.Y., musician, piano teacher and former lawyer will be celebrated annually, beginning Sunday, Nov. 17, with the Wendy Tisch Memorial Concert series, hosted by the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, at First Congregational Church in Greenwich.

Tisch died on Sept. 5, 2012, at age 59.

Schubert Club spokeswoman Nancy Weber explained that "Wendy ... was very active in the Schubert Club. After her death, her husband, Richard Tisch, asked the Schubert Club to present an annual concert."

But not just any concert. These concerts will feature "a world-class pianist to honor her memory and to give people the opportunity to hear the most accomplished pianists of our time."

More Information

If you go: The First Congregational Church is at 108 Sound Beach Ave., Greenwich. The inaugural Wendy Tisch Memorial Concert takes place Sunday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. Tickets: $40 preferred seating; $25 general admission; $15 students 7-18 years of age. To purchase in advance: wendytischconcert@gmail.com; www.schubertclub.org.

Goode, in a chat from his New York City residence, said for the intimate 4 p.m. recital, he has chosen works by "two poets who loved the written word and wrote their best poetry in music," Franz Schubert (1797-1828) and Claude Debussy (1862-1918).

Renowned for his Schubert acumen, Goode will devote the first half of the program to that composer. Featured will be Twelve Deutsche Landler, D. 790 (a dozen traditional German-Austrian folk dances in three-quarter time) and the composer's Sonata No. 20 in A major, D. 959 in four movements.

Following intermission, Debussy's Preludes, Book 1, a set of 12 songs, will be the focus. Each has a poetic, evocative title, Goode said, such as, "The sounds and the fragrances swirl through the evening air" taken from a line in a poem by Charles Baudelaire, "The hills of Anacapri," "Footsteps in the snow" and "The submerged cathedral."

A virtuoso pianist of the highest order, Goode has received glowing reviews around the world for his recitals, concerto concerts and chamber music work. Simply put, "He is one of the exemplary pianists of our day," according to the Sunday Times of London.

The New York Times puts it this way, "It is virtually impossible to walk away from one of Mr. Goode's recitals without the sense of having gained some new insight, subtle or otherwise, in the works he plays or about pianism itself."

Where does this passion come?

Goode, a founding member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, said semi-jokingly that it came from a "semi-musical family" -- his father was a piano tuner and his mother an amateur violinist.

Growing up in the East Bronx -- he recently turned 70 -- Goode said he was surrounded by music. His parents, he said, hoped he would become a violinist, but sent him initially to a neighborhood piano teacher in order that he get a solid musical education. But it quickly became clear that his soul belonged to the piano.

The decision to become a professional pianist was not a difficult one, said Goode, who is co-artistic director of the renowned Marlboro Music School and Festival in Vermont.

"You make a decision like that out of need," he said, laughing. "There comes a realization that you must have music in your life, that it fills a great need within you and moves you in mysterious ways ... both intellectually and emotionally.

"And then the time comes when you give yourself over completely -- when you realize that music is an essential thirst that nothing else can satisfy."

Although Goode has performed concerti with just about every major orchestra in the world -- and enjoys the experience enormously -- he said his heart truly belongs to the recital stage, performing alone.

"On the whole, the solo recitals are most fulfilling" -- one of the many reasons that he is looking forward to the Nov. 17 event. Another is the intimacy of most recital halls: The seating capacity of the FCC in Greenwich is about 400.

"Recitals give me the freedom to explore ... knowing that the only one I need to agree with is myself."